Ralph Avenue Merchants Band Together to Protect Community Roots in Bed-Stuy
Briefly

The Ralph Avenue Businesses coalition was formed to unite local merchants, schools, and residents in Bedford-Stuyvesant, with the goal of strengthening community ties and preserving the neighborhood's unique identity. Founded by Shalonda Vasquez, RAB has seen significant interest since its inception, aiming to boost foot traffic in the area and address challenges faced by local businesses, especially post-pandemic. As neighborhood businesses face closure and rising rents, the coalition is vital to fostering collaboration and ensuring the survival of the local culture and economy.
"Instead of working together, we [were] working alone. There are a lot of great businesses on Ralph Avenue that a lot of people don't know about and we need the traffic." - Cindy Weathers-Smith, Secretary of RAB
Read at BKReader
[
|
]